Journal file photoNorth Bergen High School on Kennedy Boulevard. The school's marching band choreographer has been charged with having sex with a 15-year-old student.

A choreographer who has worked with the North Bergen High School marching band has been arrested on charges he had sex with a 15-year-old girl who is a student at the school, authorities said today.

Paulino Jimenez, 24, of Jersey City, was arrested Friday at the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office's Special Victims Unit, Hudson County First Assistant Prosecutor Debra Simon said.

Jimenez, who authorities say worked as a choreographer for the band since 2009, is charged with aggravated sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child and child abuse, Simon said.

"The alleged criminal incident did not occur on school property or anywhere having to do with the school," Simon said.

The most serious charges Jimenez faces -- aggravated sexual assault -- carries a possible sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison if he is convicted.

Jimenez's attorney, Adrienne Edward, could not be reached for comment.

In a statement, North Bergen school district superintendent Robert Dandorph said that "at one time (Jimenez) worked with the school’s marching band director as a choreography consultant."

Dandorph added that "Jimenez is not a teacher or an employee of the district and was not classified as a person working with students but is a private consultant who worked with the band director on an as-needed basis during the marching band season between August and November."

Dandorph said that the parents of the 15-year-old girl met with Principal Paschal Tennaro and "informed him that his daughter had been engaging in a consensual sexual relationship" with Jimenez.

The principal then contacted North Bergen police and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Dandorph said.

"The North Bergen school district places the safety of its students as its absolute highest priority and we are shocked and saddened by this disturbing event," Dandorph said.